Key cuts

The following are some of the key cuts in the proposed fiscal year 2013 Springfield city budget:

The city will not hire 29 new police officers and other civilian police employees, as recently requested, and has eliminated 31 previously funded positions that are now vacant.

The Library Department will be closing the Pine Point, Liberty and East Forest Park branch libraries.

The city will discontinue mowing and maintenance at 10 parks including: Walsh, Armory Commons, Gun Square, and Angelina.

The Department of Public Works will no longer conduct sidewalk repairs and the street sweeping program will be cut in half.

In the Fire Department, 11 vacant firefighter positions have been eliminated which requires a ladder truck at the Raymond Sullivan public safety complex to be taken out of service.

SPRINGFIELD – Mayor Domenic J. Sarno unveiled a grim budget proposal for the new fiscal year Tuesday. Cuts will close three branch libraries, end mowing and maintenance at 10 parks, trigger 12 layoffs and eliminate 96 vacancies.

In addition, Sarno said the city will stop collecting trash at apartment buildings (over three units) and commercial properties effective Aug. 1, will take a Fire Department ladder truck out of service, and will not fill 31 vacancies in the Police Department or hire additional police personnel as requested.

The proposed $551.8 million budget, for fiscal year 2013, beginning July 1, reflects a 1.8 percent decrease from the current budget, officials said. The budget includes $344.3 million for the School Department.

Sarno said he considers the budget to be “balanced and sound,” although it relies on fee increases not yet approved by the City Council, and relies on his proposal to use $8 million from the city’s $40 million stabilization “rainy day” reserve fund.

Sarno said layoffs and cuts in services will be worse if the City Council fails to approve a proposed $10 hike in the annual trash fee and a 2 percent increase in the local hotel/motel room tax, as was proposed in April. Both fees combined will generate approximately $800,000 in new revenue, already counted in the budget.

Sarno has asked the council to increase the annual trash fee from $75 to $85, effective July 1, and to raise the hotel tax from 4 percent to 6 percent. Both increases have drawn criticism from councilors and have stayed in committee.

Sarno and Chief Administrative and Financial Officer Lee C. Erdmann, in a joint statement to the city and City Council, blamed the budget cuts on “the triple negative forces of reduced property tax revenues, lack of increased assistance from the state, and increased non-discretionary expenditures.”

“While we know that this is not an easy fight, we will continue to fight for our residents in need of municipal core services such as police, fire and public works,” Sarno said, reading from the joint statement.

The City Council will now review the budget during the next two weeks, and has the power to make additional cuts. Under the city charter, the council does not have the power to add expenses to the budget, but can vote to approve or deny the budget proposal.

Under the budget proposal the city will close the following library branches: Pine Point, 204 Boston Road; Liberty, at 773 Liberty St.; and East Forest Park, which is leased at 122-124 Island Pond Road. The city will continue to keep the other six branch libraries open at the current rate of 18 hours per week for each branch, Sarno said.

The libraries have been under threat in the past. In 1995, the former Springfield Library & Museums Association threatened to close five branches, then under its control, but a week-long public outcry led to a pledge of city funds to keep them open.

In 1993, four branches were closed but eventually reopened under public pressure and increased funding.

In other budget news, Sarno announced the city will continue to pay approximately $1.8 million – half the cost of education incentive pay for police officers under the Quinn bill. He is recommending the city set aside another $1.8 million to potentially cover the state’s share of the cost, which is no longer provided.

A recent state court ruling stipulated that cities do not have to pay the state’s unfunded portion of the Quinn bill. The issue will be negotiated with the police union, Sarno said.

City Councilor Timothy C. Allen, attending the budget presentation, said it is unfair to the council and to the public for the mayor and Finance Department to present the budget as balanced that relies on $1.3 million in fee increases and the use of $8 million in reserve funds, both not yet approved by the council.

Councilor Timothy J. Rooke said the administration has failed to pursue other cost savings such as seeking new proposals for health insurance. Sarno has defended the current insurance program.